RIANovostitolaunchEnglish-languageweekly

The Moscow News, one of Russia's oldest English-language periodicals, will now be coming out in a new version, with considerable changes both to content and design.

MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - RIA Novosti will further expand into the print media with the launch of an English-language weekly newspaper on Friday, the agency's editor-in-chief said.

The Moscow News, one of Russia's oldest English-language periodicals, will now be coming out in a new version, with considerable changes both to content and design.

"The project to create a new version of The Moscow News fits in logically with our agency, which has an English-language Web site and publishes an English-language monthly magazine, Russia Profile," Svetlana Mironyuk told a preview press conference.

"RIA Novosti runs newswires in several languages, and has established cooperation with thousands of new and old periodicals throughout the world. It has been more than a year now since the 24-hour English-language television channel Russia Today, founded by the agency, began broadcasting around the clock," the editor said.

The head of the project, Anthony Louis, said work is currently underway to redesign the newspaper's layout and to make its content more relevant to the target audience - English-speaking expatriates with an interest in events in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia.

Louis said the share of business news will be increased substantially to meet the needs of both foreign business people already working in Russia, and potential investors abroad.

The paper will also carry more news stories about life in the capital, especially articles directly relating to the expat community. There will be a special focus on tips for newcomers learning their way around the city.

Louis said he was certain that RIA Novosti's vast network of reporters in Russia and across the world will enable the periodical to promptly release news stories of high journalistic quality.

The size of the The Moscow News publication will soon be doubled from its current 16 pages, and it will be released in twice as many copies. The paper will be available for sale both at news stands and by subscription, he said.

A new online version of The Moscow News will be launched in late February.